In this Letter, the secondary plume produced by femtosecond laser ablation of an Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystal has been studied. The data evidence the presence of hot nanoparticles produced several microseconds after the laser shot. The cooling mechanisms of these particles have been analysed together with the evolution of their composition. The results indicate a clear relation between the final composition of the particles and the high temperature equilibrium vapour pressures of the different elements. The elemental analysis of the cross-section of films deposited by femtosecond laser ablation states the importance of nanoparticles in the film growth. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.